Character Descriptions:

1
Character Descriptions Showing, not telling

• Which of these character descriptions is better
  and why?
• She was a really nasty lady. She was mean and
  always cruel to people.
• She had piercing blue eyes that made you feel
  guilty even when youd done nothing wrong. Her
  thin, painted lips were permanently twisted into
  a miserable sneer of disapproval.

2
Read each of the following sentences carefully.
Write down what you think the author wants you to
feel about the characters mentioned.

1. Dont be absurd, the teacher scoffed.
2. No, no hope at all, the doctor answered coldly.

3

• 3. Joes dark shadow loomed over Billy as he
  cracked his knuckles. Billy took a deep breath
  and screwed his eyes up tight.
• 4. As she heard her sister coming up the stairs,
  Sally felt her stomach encircled and twisted by a
  web of ever-tightening wire.
• 5. Tony sniffed hard, trying not to cry. Kate
  smiled gently and put her hand on his.

4
Choose two words from each of the following
extracts and explain (in full sentences) how they
shape our impressions of the character.

• The teacher barked a short, cold laugh and darted
  a withering look across the classroom. Shut up,
  she snapped.
• The teacher laughed happily and sent a warm,
  twinkling smile across the classroom. Thats
  enough now, she said gently.

5
Using a simile or metaphor can help to make a
vivid description by borrowing associations or
impressions from other things

• Detective Inspector Jenkins eyes were ice-blue
  and as cold as flint.
• Sams smile was as bright and warm as the sky on
  a perfect June day. (copy slide and add
  dialogue..)

6
TASK Write a piece describing one of the
characters in the following pictures.

• Dont tell us what hes like, but give us clues
  in the way that you write about him.
• Describe him in lots of detail, zooming in on
  particular features like his nose, mouth or
  hands.
• Try to use a simile or metaphor to make your
  description vivid and powerful!

7
TASK Write a piece describing one of the
characters in the following pictures.
8
If you wish to you can start with this

• The figure stood in the dark doorway, staring out
  into the freezing night. His eyes

9
What Worked Well? Even Better If

• 1. Listen to each others character descriptions
  and identify particular phrases you find
  effective. Which words really help to conjure up
  a lifelike image of the man in your mind?
• 2. What could we do to improve these further?
• Could we experiment with more exciting language
  choices (adjectives in particular)?
• What about similes and metaphors could we
  improve our use of these somehow?